<div>We have decided to enhance our fundraising efforts to support families who are pushed into financial burden while going through the legal process, when their loved one died at the hands of police or corrections. Families need financial support to fight for the truth and justice of their loved one.
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<div>When someone dies at the hands of police or prisons, they are not considered a victim. This means families of the deceased cannot access any victim services supports. There is also very limited and controlled financial support for families who want to fight for the justice and truth of how their loved one died.
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<div>There are 2 government controlled programs:
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<div>1) Coroner’s inquest family reimbursement program
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<div>2) Coroners inquest legal fees reimbursement program
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<div>These programs are very narrow with eligibility requirements and call into question, do these programs apply to families who are claiming that police or prion staff/procedures are directly responsible for the death of their loved one.
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<div>If families want to legally fight against the Ministry of Solicitor General, it requires more money than governments will allow, or they appoint ministry lawyers, which is all controlled by the government of Ontario. In order to fight for the truth and some justice, families are pushed into financial hardship having to hire a lawyer, file legal paperwork, take time off work for coroners inquests, and to access therapeutic services while they wait YEARS (5-10) for coroners inquests to happen, so they can find out the "TRUTH" about how their loved one died.
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<div>At the bottom of this blog, we have a draft of approximate expenses that families have endured, or will endure to fight for the truth on how their loved one died.
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<div>The fund will support with financial stipend for items such as:
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<li>Lawyer retainment fees
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<li>Therapy sessions (100-150/hr): due to the traumatic and prolonged process that families have to endure for answers and a little bit of closure, its important that families or those impacted by these losses, have access to clinical therapeutic supports that's not hindered by not being able to afford it.
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<li>Legal costs for legal documentation for families (Freedom of Information requests, medical records)
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<li>Legal fees for coroners inquest intervention (lawyer fees for appearances)
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<div>We will be working in allyship with Prisoner Legal Supports in Ottawa, Kevin Egan in London, and other lawyers who are willing to intervene in coroners inquests and to work with families. We are also collaborating with grass roots organizations to provide therapeutic services around grief and loss. This emotional support will look like support groups, individual counselling, and peer support during coroners inquests.
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<div>We will be transparent and give quarterly public updates as to how the money raised impacts and supports the many families who want to fight for justice, but cant afford to.
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<div>There is a small team of people running this mutual aid shop. The team consists of families who have lost a loved one in custody, people who survived incarceration, allies, and lawyers.
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<div><em>Example of what an inquest looks like by a family member who lost a loved one, while incarcerated.</em>
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<div>When we were in my brother's inquest. Look at all the team of lawyers with health sciences, jail, coroner's counsel, OPP, all of their doctors and professionals. Now, think of each person you saw and calculate about $300 or more for flat rates, then add in hourly people, paid COs, and officers, nurses, doctors to be witnesses... now calculate court time and the cost of the coroner.
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<div><strong>Not a dime to help families.</strong>
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<div>I figure over $175,000.00 for my brothers inquest. I used to sit in that inquest, and regularly comment to Kevin that I couldn't believe how much money was sitting in that room, ministry paid for, for weeks on end. I became frustrated because not one bit of help for the family. I made the comment in my ending speech to the court about this. Try same type of theories for these zoom inquests. Inquests are moving to regularly being online, even though families request for in-person. During these online inquests, they can get specialists or witness from all over the world, so its possible the cost could be greater in that regard.
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<div><strong>Wasted money when it can be used to actually, truly and honestly fix our broken system!</strong>
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<div><em>We are looking to connect with lawyers, therapists or organizations that would like to discuss service partnerships.</em>
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<div><em>Please contact us!</em>
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Anonymous

madeleine kelly

Andy Valencia

Furqan Mohamed

Mackenzie Plumb

Mattie Kupfer

Cameron Wertheim

Jaime Snow

Jaime Wood

Owen Leinweber

No More Deaths in Custody Support Fund

No More Deaths in Custody Support Fund

Still $97,434 to go. Help us build momentum.